Shoe protector



G. OTALLAH Sept. 10, 1929,

SHOE PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 27. 1928' R O T N E V m ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED STATES GUSTANDY OTALLAH, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN. I

SHOE PROTECTOR.

Application filed October 27, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in shoe protectors, primarily intended for the use of workingmen and others while engaged in such work that dirt, grease or other damaging materials are liable to drop onto their shoes.

Among other things the invention aims to provide a shoe protector that can be cheaply manufactured; that will remain in such position as to cover substantially the whole of a shoe; that is light in weight and can, when desired, be readily put away in the pocket of an overall; and that can be quickly and easily put on or taken off.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention, which is hereinafter more fully described with the aid of the accompanying drawings, consists in certain novel construction and combination of 2 parts.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a shoe covered by the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the protector.

Figure 3 shows a cross section of a toe portion of a shoe and the protector thereover.

Figure 4 is a detail showing portion of 3c the outer side of the protector, and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view under the instep of a shoe with the protector thereover.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a covering, usually made of fabric or rubber, which is so shaped as to fit over the upper 2 of a shoe. The front and sides of the covering, as far back as the instep lift 3 between the sole 4 and heel 5 of the shoe, terminate around their lower margins in a resilient band 6; and substantially centrally the toe portion 7 of the covering is split longitudinally upwards from the resilient band 6 as shown at 8. The purpose of this split portion is to allow for variations in the width of the toes of shoes over which the covering will snugly fit. It will be noted that the resilient marginal band 6' is continuous from side to side of the covering, and is adapted to take into the recess formed between the Serial No. 315,438.

blottom of the upper 2 and the sole 4- of the s we.

Over the split portion 8 a tab 10 is ar ranged the upper end of which is sewn, or otherwise attached, to the covering fabric 1. Into the central toe portion of the shoe sole 4 the inturned ends 11 of an eye 12 are driven. This eye receives one end of the fastening member 14: the opposite end of which is attached to the tab. This tab is made of material sufliciently strong to hold its shape so that it will not, under ordinary wearing conditions, fold or crease and leave a portion of the shoe toe exposed.

Immediately behind the ends of the resilient band 6 reinforcing bridges 15 are attached to the inner sides of the covering as by rivets 9. Integral with these bridges are inwardly flexed fingers 16 which take into the recesses at the side of theshoe formed between the bottom of the upper and the sole so as to holdthe intermediate portions of the covering in their correct positions relative to the shoe.

Dependingly' secured to the side of the covering are straps 17 which cooperate with one another after passing under the instep lift 3 to further assist in holding the covering in position. The strap. ends are prefer ably held to the covering by rivets 24 which pass both through the covering and through the bridges 15. On one side, and just behind one of the bridges 15, the covering issplit vertically, and adjacent the split ends 19 suitable fastening means are provided, such as the eyelets 20 around which a lace 21 is wound in the conventional manner, to hold the said ends substantially together. 22 indicates a tongue which projects across the gap between the split ends 19 of the covering, this tongue is of course attached longi tudinally to the covering adjacent one side of i the split. Owing to the shape of an ordinary shoe heel it is found that the rear portion of the covering Willremain in position without the aid of anything.corresponding to the resilient band 6; I i

Due to the flexibility'aiforded the lacing 21, the straps 17 and the resilient band I 1 6 the protector can be quickly and easily adjusted to suit any heavier or lighter shoes made on different lasts that will fit any one wearer. In most instances the adjustment of the straps 17 need not be changed for difierent shoes, so that all a wearer has to do is to fasten the lace 21 to put the protector on.

While in the foregoing the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described and shown, it' is understood that the construction is susceptible to such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a shoe protector, the combination of a covering adapted to fit over the upper of a shoe, said covering being split vertically down one side for its entire length, means for holding said split ends substantially together, a resilient band around a portion of the lower margin of the covering adapted to take into the recess formed at the junction of the upper of a shoe with its sole, and bridges secured to the sides of said covering adjacent its lower margin portions of which are adapted to engage the recesses formed between the lower margin of a shoe upper and its sole. g

2. In a shoe protector, thecombination of a covering adapted to fit over the upper of a shoe, said covering being split vertically down one side for its entire length, means for holding said split ends substantially together, a resilient band around a portion of the lower margin of the covering adapted to take into the recess formedat the junction of the upper of a shoe with its sole, the toe portion of said covering being split longitudinally from the resilient band for a short distance, a tab on said covering adapted to cover the opening formed by said split, and means provided for holding the tab down against portions of the covering adjacent both sides of the split.

3. In a shoe protector, the combination of a flexible covering adapted to extend over substantially the whole of a shoe upper, and bridges secured to the sides of said covering adjacent their lower margins, and inturned fingers on said bridges adapted to engage the recesses formed at the sides of a shoe at the junction of the lower margin of the upper with the sole.

4. In a shoe protector, the combination of a covering adapted to extend over substantially the whole of a shoe upper, said covering being split substantially vertically at one side for its entire length, means for holding these split ends of the covering substantially together, bridges near the lower margins of said covering having inbent fingers adapted to engage the recesses at the sides of a shoe between the upper and the sole, a resilient band around portion of the lower margin of said covering adapted to engage saidrecesses and extending continuously around the front portion of thecovering, said covering being split substantially centrally longitudinally from the toe portion thereof for a short distance, a tab having one end secured to said covering and adapted to extend over the latter split covering portion, a fastening member on said tab adapted to engage an eye secured to the front margin of a shoe sole, and holding means secured to the sides of said covering adapted to extend under the raised portion of the shoe immediately in front of the heel thereof.

5. In a shoe protector, the combination of a flexible covering adapted to extend over substantially the whole of a shoe upper, a resilient band around the front portion of the lower margin of the covering adapted to engage the recess formed between the upper and the sole of a shoe, a bridge secured to said covering adjacent its lower margin and intermediately of its length on both sides, said bridges being so flexedas to conform to the curvature of the shoe upper between its sole and heel portions, and cooperating straps each attached to one of said bridges one of which is adapted to extend under the shoe between its sole and heel porions.

6. In a shoe protector, the combination of a covering adapted to extend over substantially the whole of a shoe upper, said covering being split vertically at one of its sides for its entire length, means for holding the split ends together, bridges secured to said covering adjacent its lower margin and intermediately of its length one on each side, cooperating straps each extending from one of said bridges, one of which is adapted to pass under the shoe between its soleand heel portions, said covering being split substantially centrally and longitudinally from its toe portion for a short distance, a tab having one end secured to said covering, and extending over said split portion, means for holding said tab in position, and a resilient band around the front lower margin of said covering extending across said split portion adapted to engage the recess formed. between the shoe upper and the sole, said band hav-- ing its ends located adjacent the front ends of said bridges.

GUSTANDY OTALLAH. 

